Saturday 11th June. Home Energy Workshops. This free event will provide practical, unbiased advice to help people to harness solar energy in their homes and/or to save energy - and money - through insulation, draught-proofing, and improved energy management. Room 3 at RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading. from 10:30 to 12:30. For further details please see http://www.readingfoe.org.uk or contact John Booth 9868260

July

Saturday 9th July 9a.m. Mammals. Discover what small mammals are found in Maiden Erleigh Nature Reserve. Meet Maryanne Thomas to look at the catch from an overnight mammal trapping at the reserve. Meet at the Interpretation Centre, Instow Road.

Recent EEG meetings have included: a dawn chorus walk with Ray Reedman at Lavell’s Lake, when 24 bird species were seen or heard including Nightingale and Cetti’s Warbler, and a Bat walk around Maiden Erleigh lake when 4 species of bat - Soprano & Common Pipistrelle, Noctule & Daubenton’s were seen and heard using bat detectors including our own bought with a grant from the Earley Charity.

Recent activities. As well as the Wednesday Group which meets on Wednesday mornings to carry out practical tasks in Maiden Erleigh Reserve and at other ETC sites, the Friday Group meets to survey roadside verges for areas worthy of conservation, to work towards the creation of a local walking and cycling map and to survey veteran trees. Contact Grahame Hawker on 07796170689 for further information. We have worked with the Borough Council to protect 3 road verges in Earley so far, by reducing the amount of mowing.

Earley Adopt-a-Street Initiative (EASI) Following the success of the annual litter pick, a number of EEG members have carried on the good work, in conjunction with MERA (Maiden Erlegh Residents' Association). We now have over 140 people actively and regularly tidying up the streets and green spaces of Earley, but more are needed. Want to find out more? Phone Brian on 9861115, or email MERA

LOCAL NEWS

Could your garden support the University's pond project?

The project is looking to install ponds in gardens in the Earley, Winnersh and Twyford areas for free. They will be installed in the autumn with each pond measuring 2m in diameter and a maximum 30cm depth.

Adam Freeman-Pask, who is organising the project as part of his PhD in the Environmental Biology section said: "We want to establish a network of 50 new ponds in Reading to enhance the biodiversity of urban areas by providing a clean and safe aquatic habitat to protect freshwater wildlife.

"Once the ponds have been established they will also serve as a useful research tool in assessing the effects urban areas have on biodiversity. Students will monitor the habitat quality and biodiversity level of the ponds for four years.

Comments or contributions to the newsletter to: the Editor or 2 Reeds Avenue, Earley, RG6 5SR. We would welcome short contributions from members to the newsletter.

If you know anyone who would like to join EEG, membership forms are available from Earley Town Council, 0118 986 8995, on the website under Downloads , or send an e-mail to the Membership Secretary. Please inform Liz if you intend to change e-mail or address at 50 Kenton Rd, Earley RG6 7LG, or send her an e-mail.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOPS

The True Food Co-op, Silverdale Centre :There is now a True Food Co-op operating in Earley, their most successful market. Their mission is to take low cost organic food out to the people, bypassing the supermarkets which charge a lot for organics They hold markets at the Silverdale Centre on Fridays, 5 to 8. 15 pm. They have a website giving dates www.truefood.coop

Pet Fayre 9 Maiden Lane Centre Lower Earley : A small independent shop, with bird feeders of all kinds, a variety of bird feed, large bags of which the shop is willing to deliver locally, or pick it up in your car from the back of the shop, tel 0118 9266512, e-mail sales@petfayre-reading.co.uk or go on the comprehensive website www.petfayre-reading.co.uk

Thanks to ORACLE Corporation for reproducing our newsletter on recycled paper. Oracle is the world's second largest software company, situated at Thames Valley Business Park in Earley. Oracle UK adheres to the ISO14001 Environment Standard which confirms Oracle has considered and acted upon its environmental impact. As part of Oracle’s corporate social responsibility they support a number of local groups, including us. They have given us valuable support in reproducing the hard copies of our newsletter in colour, as well as printing posters and membership leaflets for us to distribute to libraries, schools etc.